Tag: mobile future

Using a standard mobile video camera with object recognition software, a whole new way to interact with mobile devices is in the works. Natural, intuitive body movements and gestures will soon activate and control software applications ranging from productivity tools to interactive games.

Here are a few examples of touchless gestures:

Wave your hand to scroll through a document

Point at an icon to activate an application

Shoot a gun in an action game

In essence, you can point, click, drag, scroll, zoom and rotate with simple hand movements that never touch the screen. Texas Instruments and XTR 3D have teamed to develop a set of software components to improve the way we interface and interact with mobile devices. Here’s a brief video that demonstrates the technology:

So, what can we expect the future to hold for mobile software that can detect our physical gestures and recognize objects with a great deal of accuracy? What will happen with the confluence of more capable smart phones, faster processing speed via cloud computing (where thousands of computers are available on-demand) and 4G LTE networks that could provide up to 10x current speeds?

Pranav Mistry may have the answer. Among many honors, Pranav was recently awarded ‘Invention of the Year 2009’ by Popular Science for his work on SixthSense, a combination miniature projector, webcam and notebook computer. According to Pranav, we’ll soon have the ability to paint the physical world with digital information rather than confine pixels to the device. In a number of compelling examples, he demonstrates how we will be able to use any surface, any wall as an interface and our own gestures to interact. Check out Pranav’s demonstration at TEDIndia:

Part II

Pranav Mistry identifies himself as a “Designeer.” He’s a former UX Researcher with Microsoft. He received his Master in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT and Master of Design from IIT Bombay. Currently, Pranav is a Research Assistant and PhD candidate at the MIT Media Lab.

As he sets out to make connections between the physical world and the digital world, Pranav hopes to make computing interfaces fluid and more intuitive for the masses. Furthermore, his aim is to allow us to get away from traditional computer settings and out interacting with the world.

I look forward to following Pranav‘s continued research and achievements. He’s truly a mobile visionary and one to watch.

Tim Cascio is the author of the Mobile Marketing, Monetization and Methods blog, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of the Mobile Visionary Roundtable at the Illinois Technology Association and Sr. Digital Strategist at Bader Rutter & Associates, an award-winning integrated marketing services agency that specializes in advertising, public relations, brand asset management, relationship marketing and digital solutions. Tim is @timcascio on Twitter and can be reached in the United States at 262-938-5543.

Please reach out to me if there’s any way I can help you through my network or otherwise. Your comments below are welcome.

On January 20, the Mobile Visionary Roundtable at the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) welcomes virtual guest speaker Kevin Lee presenting on Mobile and Youth Culture in China. Mr. Lee, who lives in Beijing, is an advertising and media brand manager in charge of the new media division for the largest English language entertainment magazine in China.

With 500 million people under the age of 30, there’s an enormous opportunity for foreign brands and marketers who can execute well. Individuality in China has evolved in a substantive way and brands that can relate using today’s mobile technology will have a competitive advantage.

On January 20, the Mobile Visionary Roundtable at the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) welcomes virtual guest speaker Kevin Lee presenting on Mobile and Youth Culture in China. Mr. Lee, who lives in Beijing, is an advertising and media brand manager in charge of the new media division for Ringier China, publisher of the largest English-language entertainment magazine in China.

With China’s 500 million people under the age of 30, there’s an enormous opportunity for foreign brands and marketers who can execute well. Individuality in China has evolved in a substantive way and brands that can relate using today’s mobile technology will have a competitive advantage.

Mobile is clearly a disruptive technology and affects nearly every industry. Roundtable presenters will address major global factors impacting the mobile industry and highlight success stories.

Following the insightful mobile industry presentation, participants will split into themed mobile “20/20” breakout sessions, where they will enjoy networking opportunities and share best practices in mobile marketing, technology and application development.

In this roundtable, participants will:

Learn about common misconceptions about China and get a feel for Chinese perceptions of America

Find out how Chinese Youth think and what influences them

Discover the iPhone popularity or lack thereof (iPhone was launched only a few months ago in China)

ITA roundtables are a benefit of ITA membership. Members of the general Illinois technology community are always welcome to check out any ITA roundtables free-of-charge. Roundtable events are held in downtown Chicago, across from the Sears Tower (now named the Willis Tower) at 200 S Wacker Dr, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Chairs:

Tim Cascio (262) 938-5543
tcascio[at]bader-rutter.com

Raymond J. Reinhardt (312) 924-1681
Raymond@Cuddlephish.com

About the speaker, Kevin Lee
Mr. Lee is the Strategic Marketing Manager of New Media at Ringier China,
Beijing. He heads the New Media division, building products and channels for web, ecommerce and mobile. Drawing on experiences as an entrepreneur, artist and amateur historian, Mr. Lee writes a well-respected blog called http://www.genYchina.com, which discusses the changing interplay between technology, media and culture in China.

About The Mobile Visionary Roundtable
The Mobile Visionary Roundtable offers a forum for ITA members to engage in active networking and interactive, high-gain, topical discussions regarding mobile marketing and technology. The monthly Mobile Visionary Roundtables feature mobile expert guest speakers, including mobile strategists, marketers and developers from around the world.

About the Illinois Technology Association
The Illinois Technology Association (ITA) represents the interests of a diverse membership of more than 650 companies in Illinois that create, deploy and utilize information technology as a core part of their organization. By connecting members with industry peers and participants, providing the latest strategic information, market research and critical market insight and by promoting key thought leaders to raise visibility and gain a greater market awareness and presence, ITA is focused on building and developing the Illinois technology community through collaboration. Additional information is available at http://www.IllinoisTech.org

Tim Cascio is the author of the Mobile Marketing, Monetization and Methods blog, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of the Mobile Visionary Roundtable at the Illinois Technology Association and Sr. Digital Strategist at Bader Rutter & Associates, an award-winning integrated marketing services agency that specializes in advertising, public relations, brand asset management, relationship marketing and digital solutions. Tim is @timcascio on Twitter and can be reached in the United States at 262-938-5543.

Please reach out to me if there’s any way I can help you through my network or otherwise. Your comments below are welcome.

Digital display technology has reached an inflection point. Price, proven reliability and an advanced feature set now justify extreme growth in the adoption rate of OLED technology among mobile device manufacturers and device innovators.

What is OLED?

OLED is expected to replace LCD and Plasma display technology. In basic terms, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) gets its name from enhanced organic materials that glow in response to electrical currents. Pioneered by Kodak in the late 1980s, OLED technology and its practical applications have generated more than 1,700 issued and pending Kodak patents worldwide. Samsung is the world’s largest manufacturer of OLED displays.

Digital display technology has reached an inflection point. Price, proven reliability and an advanced feature set now justify extreme growth in the adoption rate of OLED technology among mobile device manufacturers and device innovators.

Why is this big news for mobile enthusiasts, innovators and consumers? The list of features and benefits are hefty and the number of applications are endless. OLED displays are:

Ultra thin. Some OLED measure a depth of only 0.2 mm or 0.0079 in inches.

Flexible, can be rolled and bent like film

Lightweight

Switches on/off very fast

Very bright, bold and crisp colors

Higher contrast ratio than LCD

Cool to the touch

Relative to CRT, LCD and plasma, less expensive to manufacture and ship

170 degree viewing nearly every angle, with no distortion from the side

Transparent (optional)

Multi-touch (optional)

This video provides valuable insight to the technology:

What concepts are being floated to take advantage of OLED? Here’s a laptop-esque gadget prototype called the RollTop that demonstrates features such as an OLED keyboard, rollup portability, writing tablet and high-quality presentation display.

Sony’s in the forefront of OLED innovation. Check out their revolutionary Sony Walkman bracelet and computer laptop concepts:

To what extent do devices already use OLED technology? Click on the device type below to see OLED-Info.com’s growing list:

Specialty lighting. Area source lighting with tunable color is a major breakthrough.

Wallpaper with tunable, conditional color.

Privacy shading.

Automotive, particularly in head-up transparent OLED displays.

Wearable fashion. This is an interesting category. See Sony’s video above regarding the OLED bracelet.

Advertising in the form of embedded wi-fi connected displays.

So, what’s next? Well, self-powered OLED is in the works. Power Paper’s paper-thin, flexible batteries create even more possibilities. Read more about the collaboration between GE and Power Paper. In addition, Universal Display Corporation, headquartered in the US, is a leading developer of OLED technology.

What are your predictions?

Tim Cascio is the author of the Mobile Marketing, Monetization and Methods blog, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of the Mobile Visionary Roundtable at the Illinois Technology Association and Sr. Digital Strategist at Bader Rutter & Associates, an award-winning integrated marketing services agency that specializes in advertising, public relations, brand asset management, relationship marketing and digital solutions. Tim is @timcascio on Twitter and can be reached in the United States at 262-938-5543.

Please reach out to me if there’s any way I can help you through my network or otherwise. Your comments below are welcome.